Umpire A.V. Jayaprakash, who declared all 10 Pakistan batsmen out, has wished the new India captain a repeat of that landmark performance.
NEW DELHI: Umpire A.V. Jayaprakash, who declared all 10 Pakistan batsmen out when Anil Kumble equalled Jim Laker's world record at the Ferozeshah Kotla in 1999, has wished the new India captain a repeat of that landmark performance on the eve of the first Test against Pakistan at the same ground.
Jayaprakash, who was in Tirupati Wednesday, said he would pray for the Indian team, and not just Kumble, who made history on a hazy afternoon Feb 7, 1999, as he officiated from the Pavilion End of the stadium. "I wish he again takes 10 wickets in an innings, but I also know it is not always possible," Jayaprakash said.
Even though Jayaprakash was thousands of kilometres away from Kotla, his heart seemed to be with the Indian team. But the former Karnataka player tried hard to maintain his 'neutrality' as an umpire even off the field as he declined to bask in borrowed glory.
Nevertheless, his cellphone ringtone "baar baar dekho, hazaar baar dekho, ki dekhne ki cheez hai janeman ..." -- a popular song from the Shammi Kapoor-starrer "China Town" -- seemed to stress that Kumble's world record was worth watching several times on video.
Jayaprakash, who officiated in 13 Tests and 38 One-Day Internationals, said he was in the city of Lord Venkateswara shrine to pray for "everybody" in the Indian team as Kumble makes his Test debut as captain at his favourite venue.
Asked if he would pray for Kumble, Jayaprakash, 58, said: "Not just him, I will pray for everybody in the Indian team."
And what are his feelings when he remembers that Test against Pakistan? "There are no feelings as I was a neutral umpire. And tomorrow it will be just one more Test for Kumble," he said.
Jayaprakash was, however, happy that Kumble, a former India vice-captain, was finally appointed captain. "He wanted to become captain, but did not get the opportunity. Captaincy was long due to him," he said.
Kumble was appointed captain after Sachin Tendulkar declined to lead the team. The seat fell vacant after Rahul Dravid, also from Bangalore and Kumble's Karnataka teammate, resigned from the job after the Test series win in England this summer.
In just five Tests at Kotla, Kumble has so far bagged 48 wickets at an average of 15.46 - the most that he has taken at any of the 49 venues where he has played Test cricket.
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